Timid Expanse by Ashwell Woodland

Timid Expanse is all about diving back into the art of live, unedited creation. After a break from music, something stirred within me—the irreplaceable catharsis of making music, something that had been missing for a while. This album came to life in my living room, a space transformed into a makeshift studio where each note and harmony was recorded over two months, starting 2024, in a small apartment in Vancouver, BC, Canada.

For a time, I questioned the value of returning to music. Why spend time on tunes when there are 'more important' things to chase? But as the first sounds of Timid Expanse came to life, those doubts faded. It was all about letting the music flow, using a mix of synthesizers and hardware to capture something raw and real.

There’s something about playing live, even if it's just to an audience of furniture and walls, that brings out ideas you just don’t find anywhere else. Maybe it’s the vibe of the moment, or perhaps the hum of the city outside. Sure, these tracks might carry the raw edges and imperfections of live recording—less polished, a bit rough around the edges—but there's beauty in the noise and the spontaneity. It’s all played with energy, meant to be cranked up loud and felt just as much as heard.

This album is about the simplicity of letting go, even just for a moment. Timid Expanse is for those raw and honest moments, offering a chance to see the beauty in imperfection and the happiness that can come from simply expressing yourself.

I’d like to personally thank Michelle La AKA ephemeral objects, who is featured on the last track “alone in our living room”. Your love, your kindness, and your eminence support was pivotal in the making of this work. “Synths need to be Synth’n’”

Ashwell Woodland is the ambient music project of Laine Butler a Vancouver based audio - visual artist